Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Saturday, 17 May 2025, directed officials overseeing lake development projects across the Gandhinagar Parliamentary constituency to follow a 70 per cent beautification and 30 per cent long-life tree plantation model, signalling a push to balance urban aesthetics with environmental sustainability. The directive came during a wide-ranging review meeting that also covered highway modernisation, monsoon preparedness, hospital upgrades and cultural institutions.

The Lake Development Blueprint

At the heart of the meeting was a new framework for lakefront redevelopment. Shah made clear that lake projects must go beyond surface-level aesthetics. 'The projects should not remain limited only to beautification but should become an integral part of citizens' lives and vibrant centres of activity,' he said, according to officials present at the meeting.

Under the 70-30 model, roughly 70 per cent of the area surrounding each lake would be developed for recreational and civic beautification — including food courts, lighting facilities and boating services — while the remaining 30 per cent would be reserved exclusively for the plantation of long-life trees. Shah also recommended the formation of committees comprising youth and senior citizens to participate in shaping development plans, embedding community ownership into the process.

Officials additionally reviewed the status of lake interlinking works being undertaken across parts of the Lok Sabha constituency, a project aimed at improving water management and connectivity between water bodies in the region.

Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway Modernisation

The proposed overhaul of the Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway was another focal point. Shah reviewed plans to improve road safety and cut travel time for daily commuters along the corridor. He called for 'structured planning' to deliver 'fast, safe, pollution-free and convenient transportation' with the fewest possible traffic signals along the route.

Administrative and police officials were directed to coordinate on traffic management and long-term transport planning. Shah also advocated the use of eco-friendly themes in infrastructure elements such as foot overbridges, parking facilities and highway lighting — consistent with a broader green-infrastructure push seen across several BJP-governed states in recent years.

Monsoon Preparedness and Waterlogging

With the monsoon season approaching, the meeting reviewed persistent waterlogging issues in Kalol, Sanand and Bavla. Shah directed officials to begin immediate planning and resolve long-pending drainage and flood-related problems within a fixed timeframe, so that residents are not inconvenienced during heavy rainfall. This comes amid growing concern in several Gujarat towns over inadequate stormwater infrastructure, a recurring challenge during intense monsoon spells.

Healthcare and Cultural Institutions

Progress on public hospitals within the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency was also reviewed. Shah instructed officials to ensure the availability of quality healthcare services and flagged areas where support from the Gujarat government would be required.

The meeting further covered the functioning of the 'Akhand Anand' and 'Sastu Sahitya Mudralay Trust'. Shah suggested measures to make the trust's publications more 'popular and accessible' in line with current trends. Detailed discussions were held on the publication, printing and distribution of the Gita, Ramayana and the monthly magazine 'Akhand Anand'.

The review was chaired by Shah in the presence of Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and senior state government officials. As the sitting Member of Parliament from Gandhinagar, Shah's direct oversight of constituency-level infrastructure signals an active ground-level engagement ahead of future electoral cycles. The outcomes of the directives — particularly on monsoon drainage and lake development timelines — will be closely watched by residents and civic bodies in the coming months.